All the good things

On August 19-20, we invite you to Akee for the presentation of summer activities developed in Aleknaičiai, Pakruojis district. During the two-day program, you will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the project “Participating Bees”, see the new sculpture “Scarecrow”, try out the freshly constructed mobile sauna, taste honey collected this summer and other gourmet goodies prepared nearby, turn your heads towards the starry August sky, and experience many other wonderful things.

About the Summer Projects

“Scarecrow” is a new site-specific sculpture by the young Lithuanian artist Beatričė Mockevičiūtė. This project was selected through an open invitation in spring, inviting artists to explore, play, and speculate on the theme and image associated with the suburban area. Beatričė’s sculpture consists of several parts and is made of local dolomite stone extracted in the Aleknaičiai surroundings.

“Participating Bees” is a multi-layered project, inspired by the long-standing relationship with bees nurtured for many years in the Aleknaičiai surroundings. The participants of the project – architect Mindaugas Reklaitis, architect and urbanist Paulius Kliučininkas, and artist Jurgis Bernatonis – observed the trajectories of bee movements this summer, researched the properties of materials they use and produce, and explored the reasons for tensions arising between local farmers and beekeepers.

“Local Sauna” is a floating sauna created by a team of young architects – Aistė Gaidilionytė, Augustė Fišerytė, Kamila Vasiliauskaitė, Karolis Lasys, and Martynas Germanavičius. Functioning on the principle of a nomadic hot tent, this sauna aims to combine the ritual of bathing and refreshment with the observation of the local environment and its ecosystem.

Program for August 19:

12:00-13:00 Arrival and tasting of summer delicacies
13:00-13:45 Tour of Akee spaces and presentation of the former school archive Introduction by Akee founder Vilius Vaitiekūnas
14:00-14:45 Stories and discussions about bees, beekeeping, and presentation of the “Participating Bees” project With the participation of the local beekeepers’ association “Dobilas” leader Linas Katilius, project participant architect and urbanist Paulius Kliučininkas, and Akee founder Vilius Vaitiekūnas
14:45-17:00 Lunch. Food provided by “Įtartina Vyto virtuvė” (Vytas Rasimavičius, Lina Vyšniauskaitė, and others)
17:00-18:00 Presentation of the sculpture “Scarecrow”. Participats: artist Beatričė Mockevičiūtė, project curator Asta Vaičiulytė, and geologist Jonas Šečkus
18:30-19:00 Presentation of the “Local Sauna” project With the participation of architects Aistė Gaidilionytė, Augusta Fišerytė, Kamila Vasiliauskaitė, and Karolis Lasys
19:00-21:00 Sauna ritual with Finnish artist Mari Keski-Korsu
19:00-22:00 Bonfire, food, conversations, music, stars, dancing at the DJ booth: architect Artūras Čertovas aka A. Certo

Program for August 20:

09:00-12:00 Breakfast. Pancakes and delicious porridge cooked on the fire
11:00-13:00 Sauna ritual with artist Mari Keski-Korsu
13:00-20:00 Free time and departure

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*In case of rainy weather, the entire program will be moved indoors at Akee.

— The Akee team will provide lunch and breakfast, and we will share the joy of cooking dinner together. We invite you to bring your favorite food suitable for cooking over the fire. We have refrigerators where food can safely wait its turn.

Guests arriving with overnight stays are invited to bring tents, sleeping bags, and mattresses. It will be possible to sleep in one of the Akee spaces (please bring your own mattresses and sleeping bags) and in the outdoor area (please bring tents).

Please, keep in mind that we’ll be in non urban area – take care of warmer and cooler clothes, sun and rain protection, means against mosquitoes and ticks. In the Akee area, beehives are buzzing. Be sensitive and attentive – bees sense this and coexist kindly.

Akee activities are sensitive to nature and sustainability, so if you have space in your vehicles, we suggest inviting others traveling to the event – this way, there will be more space for us in the Akee area, not for cars. You can also arrive at the location by bus heading towards Pakruojis. After getting off at Pakruojis station, you can reach the event location by taxi or by asking friends who arrive by car for a lift.

Spread the word, invite friends, bring what we may have missed mentioning but you think might be needed. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Address: Aleknaičių k. 9, Aleknaičiai, Pakruojis r. Phone if you have questions: +37069683445 (Vilius Vaitiekūnas)

— Graphic design: Tadas Karpavičius Communication: Inga Galinytė and Viltė Visockaitė

We thank Alexandra Bondarev, Dange Vitkienė, Simas Eitmančius, Vika Radžiutė, Iveta Ovsiukienė, Saulius Leonavičius, Andrius Kazlauskas, Linas Katilius, Svajūnas Miknevičius, Dovilė Šarutytė, Gabrielė Bagdonaitė, Donatas Žvigačius, the Lithuanian Interdisciplinary Artists’ Association, Šiauliai Art Gallery, Gabrielė Černiavskaja, Panevėžys MOKI VEŽI Wholesale Department, and Vitoldas Vaitiekūnas for their help in creating and implementing the projects.

Projects are funded by: Lithuanian Council for Culture and Pakruojis District Municipality Project partners: MB “Lairent”, AB “Klovainių skalda” (“Milsa” group of companies), Lygumų Primary School in Pakruojis, “Atžalynas” Gymnasium in Pakruojis, Juozas Paukštelis Public Library of Pakruojis Municipality, Linkuva Gymnasium, Kaunas University of Technology, Pakruojis Adult and Youth Education Center, Artnews.lt

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Photo credit: Bon Alog

Nuotraukų autorė: Bon Alog